Psalm 144:1-15 KJV
1 A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;
8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

One of those months. No doubt David had storms in his life and days not everything went well, but he still praised the Lord and his prayer was for the blessings on his home and life of the people. My own storm of no refrigation and then a few days later the heater goes out, which would of solved the whole problem or there about. See no refrig no heat, the house can be 35 and you got refrigation. Positive outlook in the worse case scenerio unless the weather is 30 below zero. I had heat in the coldes of the month, but everything that could go wrong went wrong. It happens to good and bad people all the time. It not that God's blessings are not around us or that the trial of faith is not underway, it about things happen and what are you going to do about it. The war of our faith is being attacked, what are you going to do with the shooting of arrows, and the sword waving in the air. This is when you put on your shield of faith, it should be already on and ready for battle but sometimes we forget the shield is even on. Our humanity creeps in and we find ourselves not seeing our faith but only the problem. I am reminded of God's mercy and grace in the storms we fail to see our armor or the authority of God in our life, that says you are a child of mine, and though on earth we don't always have pathways without holes and rocks to stumble on, we do have the golden street of faith before us, shining the light of hope and grace. The following of the yellow brick road is not a dream of Dororthy but a need of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Our need to follow in God's pathway in the storm is the only thing we need headlights on our feet for. To see that salvation at our feet, and not at our eye level. Means we bowing before the throne as we look at the pathway set before us.

As Dorothy followed the yellow brick road she had apples thrown at her, lion attack her, and flying monkeys to attack along with not being able to see the road because of drug of poppies that made her sleep. The witches came to try and destroy her and one even gave her a road she thought would help her but it could not, only to find their power was not as strong as what was in Dorothy heart. One bucket of water and the witches were melting. She thought she need a sorcer/magician only to find that the power was in her already to take her home. The power in us to take us home is to follow Christ in our journey, wearing his armor all the way home. Our focus on the road home to see family and loved ones. Dorothy was not in paradise when she awoke, but she found her family and friends around her, to help her in the journey ahead. There was a tomorrow despite her storm.

Though the Wizard of Oz is fantasy it tells a story of how the devil will try and take you from the pathway of God and the things that are important to you. That the fantasy looks better but it never achieves real hope and love. If achieved the same problem still exist there no power in the fantasy. No power in the dream world beyond the dashing of the eternal dream of life that you can't get home from here. Home is where the heart is, and our heart if it belongs to Jesus we have the way home within us.

How many recovering addicts, partiers and so forth learn they can have a normal life after addiction if they fight for it. How many disabled people learn they can have maybe not all their dreams, but a life beyond the disability. How many people discover if they fight for their ability to rise above the problem there are blessings along the way. Doroth seen her friends wearing customs of who they seem to be like in her fantasy only to wake to their reality of their love for her was what truly shined through.

David strength came from realizing the power of His God, the power and strength of God to do mighty things. Job in Job end of the book and through out the book really, seen the power of his God. It is the power of God that we wonder why blessings are not flowing. Then we realize we are in our humanity with the shield of faith around us, and yet the reality of our humanity we are not God, but God has the power to do great things in us, through us and for us.

Can we pray the blessings of our faith in the storm. Can we shout the Hallelujah in the storm. David definitely learned to do this in the heat of battle. When the storm comes are we singing Hallelujah? Are we feeling the arrows piercing us and still singing Hallelujah. Are we still understanding the storm is only a moment of time and that our God is everlasting Lord.

God creating sheep in the mist of confusion, because our God is mightier then the things going on around us that is causing all kinds of confusion. What is faith, but to know God power is greater then our own. Mightier then our own self or knowledge. To know that strange children or things in our world will not be the influencer of our eternity. David was known as victorious king, and his prayers of blessing and God's ability were clearly demonstration in his life of victory, for he asked for and knew God would bring him forth victorious. Are we seeing the victory in our own life and not just the problem. When a love one is sick are we seeing the victory to come or only the illness. Are we seeing a future of challenge in the storm, or are we seeing the victory in the storm and through the storm.

David knew that God would deliver him in battle, and prayed for it, he knew God for remove children that belong to the devil away from him and arm him with power from on high. His life successful because he learned to pray. Is our success in our prayer life and praise life. It recognize the arrows and the weapons of war coming at us, the complaining of problems coming but those problems are only borrow trouble. If problems arise and trouble comes God is still God taking a person of faith through those problems without borrowing trouble. Knowing your God is the Lord and he is able to deliver, to remove and to build up his people in faith despite what others may do.

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise you and lift your name up before us in knowing the victory we have through faith in you and knowing your power to deliver, remove obstacles and take us through all sorts of problems to the otherside that brings forth faith. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 1 Peter 5:6-14 KJV
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.